Afternoon shopping

[Leyna de Somerville]

I leaned in and kissed his cheek. "Yes, now I'm ready," I said, as we headed over there.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

Leaning over I kissed her cheek as we walked. "So am I. Do you know what you're going to ask?"

[Leyna de Somerville]

"No, do you? You can go first if you know," I said, smiling.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

"I have no idea either, but I'm sure once I'm inside it'll come to me," I said with a matching smile. "I'll go first anyway if you want."

[Leyna de Somerville]

Biting my bottom lip even as I smiled, I nodded. "You go first, you at least have done this before, even if you don't remember what was said."

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

Nodding, I squeezed her hand. "Are you nervous? If so, we don't have to; walking with you was pleasant enough for me."

[Leyna de Somerville]

"I am nervous, I think I'm afraid I might hear something bad," I told him, blushing at my silliness. "I want to do it though, that's what we came here for."

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

"If it's something bad just think of it as a warning, something that can be changed," I said calmly. Slowly, giving her time to reconsider, I walked her up to the door and put my hand on the knob.

[Leyna de Somerville]

I drew a deep breath and pushed aside my wariness.

"I want to, I want to know how very happy we are going to be together," I said with a genuine smile.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

My grin widening I brushed a kiss across her lips and then opened the door, leading her into the waiting area.

[Leyna de Somerville]

The room was smallish and filled with the heavy scent of incense. There were talismans hanging everywhere and I looked at them wide eyed.

I was startled at a noise and a little dark haired girl peeked out from behind a curtain and then ran off. I heard her calling out in a language I didn't understand.

"I think they know we're here," I whispered to Nic.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

Chuckling softly, I whispered back, "Yes, I would say so."

Rustling through curtains and hushed words were evident, as well as two voices, the young girl and an older woman, possibly her mother. "Think of your question yet?" I teased quietly.

[Leyna de Somerville]

It suddenly came to me what it was I should ask.

"Yes," I told him with a smile. "You can't know though…. Not yet. Do you know what you're going to ask?"

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

"A lot of simple, silly questions but not a single deep one. Still, I have an idea of what I'm going to ask, so that's better than nothing," I said with a chuckle.

The curtains moved aside and a woman entered the room, face tired but with laugh lines around her eyes and mouth. "Are you ready?" She asked with a thick Tsingani accent and I looked at Leyna, raising a brow.

[Leyna de Somerville]

"You're still going first," I told him with a bit of a push as I nodded.

I found an empty chair and sat to wait my turn.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

Smiling at Leyna I squeezed her hand, then nodded to the woman. "I'm ready," I said with a grin as I stood and she led me into an alcoved room.

Smiling slightly herself, she gestured for me to sit and I placed my palm on the table. "What is your question?"

"What will I be doing a year from today?" I asked quietly.

Raising her brow the woman took my hand, tracing the lines of my palm. "You will be living in happiness, for I see a long heart line. The small mark across the line shows a wedding around that time, within a month before and after."

Smiling, I stood and paid the woman in coin. "Thank you for the good news." She stood as well and we walked back into the waiting room; I sat and squeezed Leyna's hand. "Your turn."

[Leyna de Somerville]

Nic looked happy as he returned and I sighed softly.

I went through the curtain and took my seat. She raised her brow, and I knew suddenly she recognized me. I laid hand on the table, palm up and looked at her.

"I have been trying to decide what to ask," I told her. "And I decided that all I want to know, is if my life will be more happy than it is sad, that is all I can hope for."

Smiling softly, she looked at my palm. "Yes," she said finally. "You will find more happiness in you life than you will feel pain. Though…" Her voice trailed off and her eyes met mine. "Is that all you want to know?"

I looked into her eyes and knew there was something awful she could tell me.

"That's enough," I said, smiling and withdrawing my hand. I withdrew twice what I had planned on giving her and laid it in her hand. "That's all I need."

I walked back out to where Nic was.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

Smiling, I stood and took her hand. "Good news?"

[Leyna de Somerville]

"Yes," I said, taking his hand. "Where to now?"

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

"Well, where do you want to go?" I asked teasingly, leading her out of the shop. "To Desir, or to go and look at or do somethng else?"

[Leyna de Somerville]

"I say Désir so we can get to the part of the night where you thank me for helping you shop," I told him.

Somehow, I was more at peace suddenly. I knew my life wouldn't be without pitfalls, but all I ever wanted was to be happy. I could handle anything, knowing that in the end, my life would tip the scale towards happiness.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

"Gods, I love your ideas," I replied with a mischevious grin as I began to lead her back the way we'd come. "I have just the way to thank you as well. When we get home I'll need a couple things though."

[Leyna de Somerville]

"Do I get to know what they are? Or is it a surprise?" I asked, grinning.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

"It's a suprise," I told her, raising a brow. "But I can tell you if you'd rather. I will tell you that I'm going to bathe for you first if you want- after all, you still have a prize to claim."

[Leyna de Somerville]

I bit my lip, trying to decide if I wanted to know or not. Finally, I looked up at him and smiled. "No, I don't want to know, and yes I want to watch you bathe."

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

Nodding, I said, "Then that's settled. I still don't think I can be quite as enticing in a bath as you were though. Then again, the only way to find out for sure is to try." Looking over at her I winked. "I expect you to help me wash my back, though."

[Leyna de Somerville]

"Just your back?" I asked with a wry grin.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

"Well, if you want to extend it further- after all, it is your prize," I teased. "I'll just have to work VERY hard at keeping myself from ravaging you before I give my gift of gratitude." Quickly and softly I kissed her cheek.

[Leyna de Somerville]

"You keep giving me teasing hints like that and I'm going to make you tell me," I said with a laugh.

We turned a corner and headed towards Désir, it was just down and around the next corner.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

"But that would ruin the suprise!" I said in a air of mock outrage. Desir was getting closer and I knew I would have to behave, so I swept her into my arms for a kiss.